Nov. 23, 2010
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By Sarah Tarasewicz
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF volleyball continues its season of firsts in 2010, as junior Kristin Fisher (Clearwater, Fla.) and redshirt freshman Nichole Riedel (Denver, Colo.) became the first duo in program history to garner All-Conference USA Volleyball honors in the same season as announced Tuesday by league officials. Fisher earned a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team, while Riedel was voted to the All-Freshman Team as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Fisher becomes only the third player in program history to be named to the league's second team, as both Stephanie Serna and Erin Campbell garnered the same distinction in 2008 and 2009, respectively, while Riedel becomes the first Knight to be named to an all-freshman team since the volleyball squad joined C-USA in 2005.
It has been a big week for Fisher, as the outside hitter not only earned a spot on the all-conference team Tuesday, but also learned Monday that she was one of only 11 student-athletes named to the C-USA All-Academic Team. In her junior campaign, Fisher has been a breakout star for the Black and Gold. Not only does she lead UCF in kills, kills per set and points, but the outside hitter also ranks third in league standings in all three categories and ranks 21st and 26th nationally in kills per set and points per set, respectively. Fisher has 12 double-doubles on the season and has totaled double-digit kills in 26 of the Knights' 29 matches, which included six contests in which she tallied 20 or more kills.
After suffering a season-ending injury in the early part of 2009, Riedel was able to make a remarkable recovery in the offseason to set herself up for an impressive rookie campaign in 2010. The middle blocker leads the Knights in total blocks, block assists and blocks per set, while also ranking 11th in C-USA and second on the squad in attack percentage. Riedel has hit .300 or better in 13 matches this season and totaled two or more blocks in 18 different contests, while also posting 201 kills for the Black and Gold on the year.
The Knights wrap up their 2010 schedule this week when they play a home-and-home Conference USA series with UTEP. The first match of the series will see the Black and Gold take on the Miners on the road beginning at 9 p.m. ET, before the squad concludes play Saturday at The Venue at UCF vs. UTEP at 7:30 p.m.
2010 All-Conference USA Postseason Award Winners
ALL-C-USA HONOREES
First Team
Lucy Charuk, Houston
Chandace Tryon, Houston
Elizabeth Herman, Marshall
Altrese Hawkins, Memphis
Tracey Lam, Rice
Dana Powell, SMU
Kathryn Wilkerson, SMU
Ashley Mell, Southern Miss
Kelsea Seymour, Southern Miss
Jordan Clampitt, Tulsa
Tyler Henderson, Tulsa
Second Team
Nancy Cole, Rice
Asheligh McCord, Rice
Kelli Becerra, SMU
Courtney Manning, SMU
Jessica Oliver, SMU
Izabela Grot, Tulane
Jessica Adams, Tulsa
Diana Silva, Tulsa
Hannah Stout, Tulsa
Sam Serley, UAB
Kristin Fisher, UCF
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Cori Martone, Tulane
Elizabeth Kale, Tulsa
Ally Slaughter, UAB
Nichole Riedel, UCF
Jeane Horton, UTEP
Melissa Toth, UTEP
INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tyler Henderson, Tulsa
SETTER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Clampitt, Tulsa
LIBERO OF THE YEAR
Tracey Lam, Rice
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Cori Martone, Tulane
COACH OF THE YEAR
Ed Allen, Tulsa